Police Clear Troopers After Fatal Shooting Near Dover

In June 2024, a confrontation outside an assisted‑living home in Dover turned deadly. A visitor named Arnold Azamar Jr. , who had been barred from the facility for earlier aggressive acts, arrived to see his mother. After dinner, a disagreement over whether he could leave with her sparked a verbal clash that quickly escalated. Maintenance worker William Whitehead, on duty and accompanied by his eight‑year‑old son, stepped in to ask Azamar to leave. The situation became physical when Azamar punched Whitehead and fled toward his SUV. There, he drew a gun and began firing at anyone nearby, including the vehicle of a cousin who had come to help. Whitehead was struck twice and later died from his injuries. Emergency calls were made as the shooting unfolded, alerting police to a violent incident in the parking lot. Delaware State Police officers Sergeant John Wilson and Corporal Eric Saccomanno arrived with other agencies already on the scene. They took tactical positions around the area, ready to respond to the gunfire.Despite repeated orders from officers for Azamar to drop his weapon, he continued to brandish it. When a mother and child were at risk in the vicinity, Wilson fired his gun to stop the threat. Saccomanno also discharged his rifle after Azamar moved away from his mother, ensuring all shots hit the suspect. The Delaware Department of Justice reviewed the case and concluded that both troopers acted within legal bounds. Their use of deadly force was deemed necessary for self‑protection and to safeguard others, especially after Whitehead had been shot and an eight‑year‑old child was present. The investigation found no criminal wrongdoing by the officers. Both troopers were cleared, and the report emphasizes that their actions met state law requirements during a chaotic emergency.